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The Gardens
Panton Hall
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In August 2001 we moved to 'The Walled Garden' in the hamlet of Panton on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The garden was built in the eighteenth century to provide the owners of Panton Hall with fruit, vegetables
and cut flowers. The two acres inside the 10 feet high walls would have provided enough food for up to 40
people throughout the year. A gate in the south-facing wall at the top of the garden leads to the site of the
old house, now sadly demolished, by way of a beech-lined walk. Only the wonderful stable block remains.
By 2001 the garden had filled with self-seeded sycamore trees, many of considerable size, weeds and a huge
amount of rubbish. The paths inside the walls had all disappeared and ivy threatened the walls by growing under
and dislodging the coping stones. Over the last four years we have removed the ivy, restored the paths and
borders and a major replanting scheme is underway (oh for a lottery grant!). One third of the garden produces
the box plants for sale on this website. The larger plants were transported from our last home. A new orchard
has been planted with apples, cherries, pears, apricots, peaches, plums, gages, figs, mulberries and medlars.
Some of these are trained against the south wall for extra warmth and protection.
Jenny & David Eckford
PANTON HALL 1720 - 1960s
Panton Hall was designed for Joseph Gace by William Talman. When Talman died in 1719 the work
was completed by Nicholas Hawkesmore - a pupil of Sir John Vanbrugh. The gardens were laid out in the 'dutch style',
which was fashionable during this period.
In 1775 Edmund Turnor, the owner, employed John Carr to add wings to the house.
Also at this time William Eames (who designed the gardens at Belton House near Grantham) landscaped the grounds
and 'improved and ornamented' with several plantations. The grand stable block was designed by William Legg.
Some years before the hall was demolished in the 1960s, a number of the fireplaces and doors were sold to Lord
Iliffe for Basildon Park in Berkshire. This house was also designed by John Carr and is now owned by the
National Trust.
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